Mubi has set a theatrical release date for the remastered version Lars von Triermovie idiots ahead of its 25th anniversary after acquiring 11 films from the controversial director. The film, which first premiered at the 1998 Cannes Film Festival, was met with widespread critical acclaim upon release, although it was controversially nominated for the Palme d’Or of the festival despite this.
idiots will see a theatrical re-release after the Zentropa Post Production remaster distributed by Mubi. This follows the streaming service’s acquisition of 11 von Trier films, including a trilogy about Europe. (Crime element, epidemic, Europe), Breaking the waves (1996) Dancer in the dark (2000) Dogville (2003), Five Obstacles (2003) Manderlay (2005), Boss of everything (2006) and Antichrist (2009). In addition to von Trier’s films, Mubi has also recently acquired 50 feature films from Sony Pictures, as well as new remasters of von Trier’s series. Kingdom And Kingdom Exodus back in 2022.
idiots was produced after the manifesto of Dogme 95, a film movement founded by von Trier and a fellow Danish director. Thomas Winterberg which aimed to place more emphasis on traditional storytelling and performances in response to what the filmmakers saw as an over-reliance on technology. The film is about an anti-bourgeois commune that seeks to free its “inner idiots” by behaving in public as if they were mentally or physically handicapped. Unsurprisingly, the film garnered widespread backlash upon release. Mark Kermode was notoriously expelled from its premiere screening at Cannes for its criticism, and subsequent releases were heavily censored.
Lars von Trier is a controversial figure
idiots is just one of von Trier’s controversial works, as the director remains a controversial figure in the film industry. His films are often accused of condoning misogyny, violence, sex and ableism. On top of that, the director has faced criticism for comments he made at the Cannes Film Festival back in 2011 while promoting his film. Melancholy starring Kirsten Dunst (after which he was suspended from the festival for seven years), as well as accusations of unprofessional behavior and psychological abuse on the set (this was also strongly implied by the musician Bjork that the director was sexually inappropriate towards her during the production of his film Dancer in the dark, which starred Björk). Despite all this, von Trier remains one of the most influential contemporary authors.
Following the acquisition - a deal brokered by TrustNordisk - Mubi will release a 4K restoration of the controversial film in theaters on June 16, followed by an exclusive release on the streaming service.
Source: Collider
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